Darts star admits to Christmas dilemma after springing major upset at World Darts Championship
Ricky Evans left Alexandra Palace with a place in the third round of the PDC World Championship and an unexpected problem to solve, after knocking out seventh seed James Wade in a dramatic post-Christmas classic that underlined darts’ capacity for chaos and theatre.
The 35-year-old from Kettering edged a pulsating five-set encounter 3-2, finally sealing victory 6-4 in legs after missing seven match darts and surviving a series of twists that threatened to swing the contest back in Wade’s favour.
The defeat made Wade the highest seed to exit this year’s tournament so far, his fate sealed after he missed a match dart of his own at double five when leading 4–3 in the deciding set.
Evans, one of the game’s fastest throwers and most flamboyant personalities, arrived on stage as he always does at this time of year, clad in festive colours and walking out to Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone.
On this occasion he was accompanied by a Santa-dressed dancing toy, delighting a crowd already primed for entertainment.
By the end of the match, however, it was Evans who was left pondering a change of soundtrack.
“The problem is now I’m playing after Christmas,” he said on stage. “I’m going to have to walk on to something not Christmas, aren’t I? I’m going to have ‘Like A Prayer’… Madonna. Who cares? I’m still going.”
Ricky Evans was delighted after beating James Wade at Ally Pally
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The match itself was a breathless exchange of momentum.
Evans took the opening set against the darts, helped by a clinical 128 checkout and Wade’s early miss at double five.
The response from the four-time semi-finalist was emphatic, a 170 ‘Big Fish’ finish anchoring a fightback that levelled the contest and hinted at his experience asserting itself.
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Evans, though, refused to be subdued.
He claimed the third set with a decisive 13-dart leg against the throw, only to lose his composure in the fourth as Wade dragged the contest into a decider.
The fifth set was pure drama. Evans surged ahead with finishes of 144 and 89, then faltered spectacularly, missing six match darts, including three at double one, and even being warned by the referee for an underarm throw.t 4 paragraphs
A seventh match dart went begging at double 16, and when Wade failed to capitalise, Evans finally steadied himself, pinning a superb 99 finish to bring the roof down.
“Imagine coming to darts and winning 3–0?” he said. “What’s the point? Make it interesting. I say it every year, I’m weird but I’m box office.”
Elsewhere on the night, a remarkable story came to an end as David Munyua was beaten 3-0 by Kevin Doets.
Ricky Evans is a man on a mission at the World Darts Championship
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Munyua’s presence at Alexandra Palace had already made history. The 30-year-old, a full-time veterinary surgeon from Nairobi, had never left Africa before travelling to London and stunned the sport with a first-round victory over world No 18 Mike de Decker.
That breakthrough earned him a congratulatory message from Kenya’s president William Ruto and the full backing of the Ally Pally crowd, including members of the Kenyan High Commission.
Munyua did not disappoint, firing in five maximums, but Doets’ heavier scoring and consistency proved decisive.
“I was expecting a lot of booing,” Doets said. “They are still booing me now.
“But it’s fair enough, he is the people’s champion. For someone from Kenya to reach the second round is amazing.”
There was also a notable upset as former semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens shrugged off a disappointing year to beat 31st seed Wessel Nijman 3-0.
